For"mer (?), a. [A compar. due to
OE. formest. See Foremost.]
1. Preceding in order of time; antecedent; previous; prior; earlier; hence, ancient; long past.
For inquire,
I pray thee,
of the former age.
Job. viii. 8. The latter and former rain.
Hosea vi. 3.
3. Near the beginning; preceeding; as, the former part of a discourse or argument.
3.
Earlier, as between two things mentioned together;
first mentioned.
A bad author
deserves better usage than a bad critic; a man
may be the
former merely through the misfortune of an ill judgment; but he can not be latter without both that and an ill temper.
Pope. Syn. -- Prior; previous; anterior; antecedent; preceding; foregoing.
Form"er (?), n.
1. One who
forms; a maker; a creator.
2. (Mech.) (a)
A shape around which an article is
to be shaped, molded, woven wrapped, pasted, or otherwise constructed. (b) A templet, pattern, or gauge by which an article is shaped.
(c) A cutting die.
Hear it pronounced